The Ford has soft touch materials in the back only in the Titanium and Vignale version. ("...but that doesn't matter for this video, because I'm comparing the range as a whole.")

You say the Ceed has soft touch materials in the back, then contradict yourself by saying only the Focus does...

The American car isn't sold in America. :(

Btw Matt, this new generation of Focus is no longer even sold in the US.. It is now entirely a German car.

I’m looking for a gf. I meet a new girl, a voice comes in my head “should I avoid, consider, shortlist or go right ahead and buy”

Focus is now pretty much european.

You mean European vs. European vs. European. Because the Ford Focus has nothing at all to do with Ford USA, it's always been a European model, 100% developed, designed, engineered and built by Ford Europe, with headquarters in Cologne, Germany. VW Golf is obviously German. The Kia Ceed has been fully developed in their European centers as well, and is built here too, while the vast majority of engineers and designers working in Kia are formed employees of European brands such as Audi, BMW, VW, etc. Why do you think Kia / Hyundai went from making crap cars for decades to all of a sudden making really good cars in a time period of only a couple of years?

Ford has worked very hard to get this car to be an all-rounder i think thay have managed just that. .

Ford is more German now than American actualy

I always put the removed parcel shelf against the back of the front seats before putting the rear seats down, then when you load the car the parcel shelf protects the back of the front seats from whatever you are loading, simples

You forget to say about the abscence of the air vents in the back of the focus.... the vw golf has air vents for the passengers from the back. This is more relevant than soft materials, one touch for the windows and if the window goes all the way down...

how many times have you reviewed the golf everytime i watch one i know exactly what your going to say I LOVE IT!!!

I have had all 3 of these over the last 2 and a half years.. And I was shocked to find the kia was most definitely the best to live with and overall the most reliable

Great job! I think this is one of the most expected head to head reviews.

Still waiting on the review of the new Mazda 3 (hatchback & sedan)

Waaaaait a sec, the Ceed has an adjustable boot floor, so the cover should fit underneath... damnit Matt

Personally I'd pick the Ceed. Best looking, best equipped, has the best technology and has independent rear suspension on every model. The 7 year warranty doesn't hurt either.

Well... focus and ceed are beautiful cars.... golf looks like something from the 90s... actually... i actually think the golf have been looking the same since middle of 90s.. both outside and inside. Actually most vw cars.... Ford and kia always make cars thats beautifly, sporty, exclusive, practical etc... If i want a vw i can just buy a škoda.. they look better, more exclusive and they are more practical. And i still don’t get the thing with soft touch vs ”scratchy plastics”... doesn’t matter what material..normaly people don’t scratch their nails or at all touch the places you check.

I just bought the ST line X 1.5 diesel and it's amazing and quick

I went with the Ceed. Though check out the others. As a family reliability is key over how fun it is to drive and the Kia's 7 year warranty gives me confidence.

Mat Watson, an issue which I feel Carwow could definitely address is keyless thefts. I think it would be great if you could make a video encouraging people to buy steering wheel locks and keeping keys in cases away from the front door. My car was recently stolen and after speaking to neighbours and staff in different stores such as Halfords, I've gathered that keyless thefts are such a regular occurrence! Please could you do everyone in the Carwow community a favour by making this video - after all we're saving money on brand new cars which we don't want to go missing :)

I find it quite funny how the track is just down the road from Ottershaw where I lived 😂😂, yet I didn’t know they existed until 3 months ago

Loved this video, each video of urs seems to improve more and more, good work!

Golf for me, interior- and exteriorwise. I like to feel relaxed and free and hence I do love that unintrusive, classic design with its clear lines pretty much. And there is that feeling of "Vorsprung durch Technik" in it as well.

Wheel size and tire combinations really affects handling. It would be nice to know with which ones were they equipped. Assuming the Ceed had the worst tires for those 16" size wheels, not the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 it has when equipped with 17". Oh and other versions have all automatic windows. It's a shame this comparisons are never fair for the specifications compared. They would be a lot more useful.

So, Matt.. In your standalone review of the Focus, the white ST-Line had scratchy plastic doortops. This one now has soft touch material. Could you explain the difference here, is it a trim-based variation, a mid-year update, what's going on? I'd like to know what to expect from my soon arriving Active estate

Finally the video i was waiting for ever since september 2018!!! You can get the ford focus rear parcel out by twisting the plastic thingy on by 90 degrees i think. I know i managed to find it the first time I tried to fit my winter tires in the back. And BTW.. Not all focus trims have soft touch materials in the back.

I like how you explain the specs of those cars and in the reviews as well, so people can clearly see wide range and so no biasness whatsoever, plus your expressions which makes it great then :)

Just a suggestion you could add as another review the sound system of cars

You guys should make more kind of videos like this. Like every 2 years automakers release a facelift from their models

Rear bench experience is much more than soft touch trim and window opening. How about ac vents, cubby spaces, cup holders...?

Nice background music :) Surprised by the outcome of this comparison btw

Having recently looked very hard all all three, and test driven a VW and Ford, It's a Focus Titanium X that been sat in my drive for the last 2 weeks.

You got two VW Golfs???? Look at 2:46 it is a DSG transmission and a analog screen. At 2:58 is has a manual gearbox and a digital cluster......????

That jerrmy clarkson imitation though 😂😂😂

03:40 There's some bloody good editing there. I wouldn't have known it was from another video if it wasn't for the gear knob changing.

Still ordered the golf highline busines r 😂 with the 1.5l, number 1 for me.

I think the new astra deserves to be there. Astra's used to be a joke but now they're quite good.

Nice colour Combination. Blue, Yellow, Red 👍❤

Can you add in NCAP ratings, and Android auto/Apple carplay in future please Matt..love the channel

Anyone: Who will be sitting on the Iron Throne at the end of GOT? Matt: Click on the top-right hand corner to find out.

I knew the Ford Focus would win even before watching it. Took one for a test drive, great car.

I don't know, but I feel that between driving them, the wheels and tires made quite a bit of difference. The best would be to test similar priced models to know witch one is the best for the buck. Otherwise you can buy a more exensive car and that is usually better...

I seen focus titanium in white with 17 wheels, stunning looking, for me I also agree this is the best car in this segment. brilliant brilliant job ford. also 1.0l petrol is so quiet and good performance together

You did not mention the warrentee periods, a big deal for your resale value and confidence if keeping the car for a long time.

6:10 Matt really do like the soft touch materials in cars 😅

what engine size should i get for the golf? I've been trying to decide for months and you didn't say in this video. I was looking at 1.6 diesel before but now I'm worried 'cause of ULEZ etc so I was thinking a 1.4 petrol? But I'm also broke, is the 1.2 ok?

Kia ceed 😍😍😍especially kia ceed gt line ❤️❤️

I agree with the kia having the best value for money.. Especially 'cause it doesn't look it's price

Even though I like my VW, the 3-cyl 1.0L just isn't the sweet spot for small car; I'd prefer a 4-cyl 1.5L just right for urban & extra-urban driving. Waiting for the Mk8 1.5 TSI should be a great car

Those 3 Feel classic outside :/ the focus is gorgeous only in vignale or st-line with some option. If i have to choose one i take the focus !

What matters is mechanics...all good cars..with the focus having the edge on reliability and fixability price wise

7:55 lol I own a VW Golf 7 for more than half a year and I did not know I could store it down there xD

The Ford was engineered and is build in Germany, like, obviously, the Golf. Most of the Kia was designed and engineered in Germany, too. If you fairly consider what you get for your money, all three cars to me are too close to praise a single winner. All three cars are really, really good, and to me are better than the competition.

That is a really helpful video post... 👍

What about the Focus back seats ambient light? it's just so unstable when you press it that it seems its gonna fall at any moment, besides the focus rears doors panels are suspiciously soft, if you press them with your fingers they move way too much, is this normal? I went one day to see the car and got really disapointed because of the poor quality in the rear seats.

I ordered Focus St-Line :-)

You should make a vote, for What car we want

Just a Senna flying by normal Sunday for you Matt😍

Thank You. You helped me decide which one to buy.

You can see this comparison video was rushed. It's not fair in many cases. These budget cars have a huge difference in terms of quality and materials as you move up the trim levels. A well equipped golf is 30 grand for example.

I think ford focus won the race share. Don't forget that the golf 7 is in the market for over 7 years, I'm pretty sure that golf 8 would easily take the crown back .

Would like to know how much noise is auditable in the cabin. Better said, is a four cylinder quieter than a three cylinder

The Focus is a Titanium X - which would be a high entry level spec. ... That car has certainly done the rounds as I've seen it on four reviews so far !!

Ford really has made a beautiful machine with the new Focus, I’m not just saying this because I’m a Ford man myself, nobody can deny that they’ve done a superb job, sure there’s one or two niggles here and there but it’s like that with any car, overall it’s arguably the best and the only car I’d personally choose. If I had to choose something else my next choice isn’t even on this list, the Honda Civic would be my option 2. In my opinion the Golf is looking very dated (subjective opinion) I see them everywhere and they all look the same, the design in general on most of their cars is very clinical and underwhelming, some people like the more grown up conservative look but I personally just think it’s getting a little long in the tooth, VW needs to spice things up a bit. I’ve also driven a lot of various VW’s such as the golf and polo and they’re all a bit underwhelming to drive, they drive well but they are far from exciting, they’re just a bit bland for my taste. As of right now I wouldn’t give the Golf a second look, it’s just not for me. The Kia maybe, but it’s a fat nope for the Golf for me.

You forgot to include the new Mazda 3

Please make a CX-5 vs. Tiguan vs. Qashqai comparison video!

When you check the quality please check even the quality of the door pocket because in the golf there is fabric, unlike in the focus and ceed

So this doesn’t make any sense. In your in-depth review of the Ford focus you say the car has hard plastics at the back? Yet you say in this review that the Focus is the only one to have soft touch plastics at the back even though the Ceed also have.

I would choose golf

So... what c segment car is comfortable for three back passengers?

Would smaller alloy-rims improve the drive and handling on the Ford? Does this Ford come with independent rear suspension or the torsion beam?

2:50 when he is not in golf no ghost screen, when he is in golf there is ghost screen. Two different cars or what?

Ford Focus is the best of its category..great video

Even in 2021 the ford focus still the most hatchback fun to drive and the king in twisty roads. I love you focus

Ah you guys are lucky you still have the Focus. I was thinking of buying one but here in North America they have been discontinued since 2018 :S

I love how my 2010 GTI has basically the same exact interior of a 2019 Golf/GTI. Goes to show how nice it was in the first place that they've kept it the same for 10 model years. The car as a whole hasn't changed much either since 2010 besides a move to the MQB platform. VW has a formula that works. Some may call that boring but I think it's great.

What's a shame about this, is calling Ford 'American'. The Focus is a European Development and pretty much as German as the Golf (with a british influence - best of both worlds?)). Made in Germany too! I believe Ford would be more appreciated if people focused on their European Heritage. After all the Ford Germany has been founded in 1925, Volkswagen has only been founded in 1937 / 1949. My wild guess would be that the only 'american' thing about the Focus is its Badge.

Just bought the focus last friday. I wish this video was before that😁

Can't go wrong with any of these, please feature their extra's such as lane assist & board computers.

No Honda Civic in the comparison 🤔🤔

What if next head2head test is for estates of Opel Insignia Skoda Superb and mazda6?

The parcel shelf is meant to sit between the back of the front seat and the folded rear seats.

Is it two different golf? The gauges seem to be standard on the panning shots but when he's sat speaking about them it seems to change to the digital? 2:45

Only until the 2020 Golf comes out.the Mk VII Golf is fundamentally a 2012 car and it's still the second best car in the class. The Mk VIII will smoke everything.

The experience of driving a VW Golf can be compared, but it always wins over its competitors.

what about the mazda 3? the steering is much better than the ford in my opinion and its pretty fast enough, however in the back of the mazda 3 its pretty small. the car I'm talking about is the mazda 3 2.0 2010 I-stop

Great review mate..😃

Kia has a 7 year warranty vs a 2 year from vw and 1 year from ford. That's the most important thing for me.

Do it when the Mk8 Golf is out later this year/early next.

ARGHHHHH BEST COMP SO FAR!!!!

Good old times when this was a duel between the Golf and the Opel Kadett (then Astra).

Goooooolf

Kia Ceed is the best, have mine since September 2018 1.4 T-GDI DCT 7 automatic and you need to try it how good it is, you won't believe until you try!!!

Matt make a video for high end family cars looking at s3 golf r other around that price range

Beautiful Focus!!!!

I would take Mazda 3 2019 or Civic 1.5 VTEC

Warranty is surely a factor for this segment. The Kia comes with a 7 year warranty... isn't that 4 years over the other two?!

Comparison between small estate cars? Kia ceed tourer , vauxhall astra touring or corolla tourer?

Howdy, great comparison! For my money in this class, the i30 or Leon.